AMSTERDAM LIGHT FESTIVAL 2016

Amsterdam Light Festival is an annual light art festival in Amsterdam. Artists, architects and (light) designers from all over the world bring their light artworks and installations alive during the festival every winter.

The artworks are placed alongside two routes. Each route has their own theme, set of artworks and visitor experience. Water Colors, the boat rout, displays big monumental objects and offers visitors the chance to experience the art from a water perspective. Illuminade, the walking route, shows interactive and innovative installations from upcoming designers in the Plantage neighborhood.

Light art

Light art is a relatively young art form that offers artists -because of the LED revolution- completely new expression possibilities, on the intersection of art and technology. The festival aims to stimulate the development of light art and light artists. The festival also aims to bring light art and light artist to a broader audience, by presenting light art in a relatively approachable setting in the public sphere. Every year Amsterdam Light Festival invites artists to contribute to the festival though a Call for Concepts. 1800 artists from 93 different artists were interested in 2016. This led to 500 concrete submissions from artists from 45 different countries.

Talent development

Almost all artworks that are presented during Amsterdam Light Festival are designed and made especially for the festival. A lot of participating artists use concepts and techniques that they have never applies before. Every year the technical team from the festival supports the artists in the development and implementation of their concepts.

Amsterdam Light Festival is founded by enterprising Amsterdam and has grown to a private foundation. The festival is possible because of the help of cultural organizations, knowledge institutes, businesses, funds and the city of Amsterdam. People from different branches are committed to literally shine light on the Dutch capital.